Tone, tactics of flag debate could affect race relations

Posted: Monday, January 08, 2001

As this year's Georgia General Assembly session convenes today one topic is sure to dominate conversations -- what to do about the flag.

For several years now there have been calls from legislators and community groups to change Georgia's flag by removing the Confederate battle emblem. State Rep. Tyrone Brooks, D-Atlanta, has prefiled legislation to relegate the state flag to ''museums and archives'' and to replace it with the pre-1956 flag.

The St. Andrew's cross battle emblem was added to the flag in 1956. Some Southern heritage groups say the change was part of a tribute to fallen soldiers. But, historians and many others believe the change was rooted in an act of defiance against the federal government's order to desegregate schools.

Last year, South Carolina had a similar battle over having the Confederate battle flag fly atop the state capitol building. After an economic boycott by minority groups ensued, state officials agreed to move the flag to a Confederate war memorial on the capitol grounds.

Recently, officials in Mississippi, which is the only other state that still has the emblem on its flag, began discussing options for removing the battle flag from its state standard. Many expect the Mississippi legislature to change the flag this year.

Georgia officials are under increasing pressure from the public, civil rights advocates, business and tourism leaders to change the state flag. Already the battle lines for this year's legislative session are being drawn and many are worrying that this topic will dominate the session.

Whether it happens this year or not, we believe that the state flag will eventually be changed. There is too much controversy and anger over the current design for it to remain. However, we believe the pivotal issue is not when the flag will be changed, but how it will happen.

With emotions running high and racial tensions increasing over the flag, we believe if this matter isn't handled with diplomacy it could cause irreparable harm to race relations in Georgia. It would be a tragedy to undo all of the progress we have made over the past decades because this extremely sensitive situation was mishandled. We urge people on both sides of this issue to treat each other with respect and to work toward a peaceful solution.